Gottlob, Timiș

For other uses, see Gottlob.

Gottlob
Commune
The Roman Catholic church in Gottlob in 2004
Coat of arms
Location in Timiș County
Gottlob
Location in Romania
Coordinates: 45°56′N 20°43′E / 45.933°N 20.717°E / 45.933; 20.717
CountryRomania
CountyTimiș
Established1773
Government
 • Mayor (2004–)Gheorghe Nastor (PNL)
Area
[2]
39.85 km2 (15.39 sq mi)
Population
 (2021-12-01)[1]
1,822
 • Density45.72/km2 (118.4/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+02:00 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+03:00 (EEST)
Postal code
307251–307252
Vehicle reg.TM
Websitewww.primariagottlob.ro

Gottlob (German: Gottlob; Hungarian: Kisősz) is a commune in Timiș County, Romania. It is composed of two villages, Gottlob (commune seat) and Vizejdia. These were part of the commune of Lovrin until 2004, when they were split off.[3]

Etymology

The commune's name is of German origin, meaning "Praise to the Lord".[4] Legend has it that the first settlers reached these lands amid a torrential downpour, which miraculously ceased when they arrived at the site of the future village. Overjoyed by this sign, they lifted their hands to the sky and exclaimed, 'Gott lob!'[5]

History

Present-day Gottlob was founded in 1773, at the same time as the neighboring village of Tomnatic, on a territory that was inhabited in the more distant past. Between 1770 and 1773, the administration, under the guidance of Chamber Councilor Hildebrand[6] (according to other sources, Captain Tribaustter),[7] would build 203 houses in Gottlob for German (Swabian) settlers. The Catholic parish was also founded in 1773. The vast majority of the settlers who founded Gottlob came from Luxembourg and Lorraine, but also from Alsace, Mainz, Trier, Franconia and a few other localities in Banat.[8]

Gottlob has had a school since 1771. The estate passed in 1781 to Baron Anton Lipthay of Lovrin, scion of a long-established noble family. In 1836, a cholera outbreak devastated the population. Between 1866 and 1867, the villagers financed the construction of the Roman Catholic church. By 1880, oil lamps were lighting the streets of Gottlob.[5]

In 1912, Gottlob was described as a large village situated along the Kikinda–Arad railway line. It comprised 590 houses and a population of 2,199. The village also featured a savings bank and a brick kiln. That same year, its streets were illuminated by electric lighting.[9] By 1936, Gottlob had a primary school, both male and mixed choirs, three brass bands, and several local institutions, including a tile factory, a mill, a warehouse, and an agricultural association. The village also supported a sports society, a firefighters' association, and a monument honoring its heroes. It counted 626 houses and 1,969 inhabitants. In 1949, the village celebrated the opening of its cultural center.[5]

Until 1940, Germans formed the majority of Gottlob's population. There was also a sizable French community.[10] After World War II, their numbers dropped dramatically, from about 90% to less than 10% in 1992, with a continued decline throughout that decade. In 1945, 168 Germans were deported to Russia.[7] Another 310 people were deported to Bărăgan between 1951–1956.

Demographics

Ethnic composition (2021)[11]
  1. Romanians (81.1%)
  2. Roma (4.39%)
  3. Germans (2.08%)
  4. Ukrainians (1.09%)
  5. Unknown (10.3%)
  6. Others (1.12%)
Religious composition (2021)[12]
  1. Orthodox (67.3%)
  2. Pentecostals (8.83%)
  3. Roman Catholics (8.01%)
  4. Baptists (2.25%)
  5. Unknown (12.2%)
  6. Others (1.34%)

Gottlob had a population of 1,822 inhabitants at the 2021 census, down 10.73% from the 2011 census. Most inhabitants are Romanians (81.06%), larger minorities being represented by Roma (4.39%), Germans (2.08%) and Ukrainians (1.09%). For 10.26% of the population, ethnicity is unknown.[11] By religion, most inhabitants are Orthodox (67.34%), but there are also minorities of Pentecostals (8.83%), Roman Catholics (8.01%) and Baptists (2.25%). For 12.23% of the population, religious affiliation is unknown.[12]

Census[13] Ethnic composition
Year Population Romanians Hungarians Germans Roma Ukrainians
1880 3,202 116 68 3,000 – –
1890 3,223 111 20 3,067 – –
1900 3,271 245 75 2,935 – –
1910 2,910 158 254 2,403 – 1
1920 3,047 185 206 2,593 – –
1930 2,625 107 38 2,380 55 –
1941 2,706 246 94 2,201 – –
1956 2,993 – – – – –
1966 3,026 1,277 103 1,528 48 1
1977 2,723 1,259 84 1,210 103 12
1992 2,071 1,530 57 277 146 24
2002 2,284 1,885 44 171 130 29
2011 2,041 1,758 28 81 83 20
2021 1,822 1,477 13 38 80 20

Politics and administration

The commune of Gottlob is administered by a mayor and a local council composed of 11 councilors. The mayor, Gheorghe Nastor, from the National Liberal Party, has been in office since 2004. As from the 2024 local elections, the local council has the following composition by political parties:[14]

Party Seats Composition
National Liberal Party 6
Social Democratic Party 4
Alliance for the Union of Romanians 1

Economy

The main occupation of Gottlob's residents is agriculture. Gottlob is noted for its watermelon crops.[15] Cabbage, peppers, potatoes, tomatoes, cauliflower and onions are also grown.[15] The largest blueberry plantation in western Romania was established in 2014 in Vizejdia.[16]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gottlob, Timiș.
  1. ^ "2021 Romanian census". National Institute of Statistics. 1 December 2021.
  2. ^ "Primăria Gottlob". Ghidul Primăriilor.
  3. ^ "Lege pentru înființarea unor comune" (PDF). Camera Deputaților. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  4. ^ Crețan, Remus (2006). Dicționar toponimic și geografico-istoric al localităților din județul Timiș. Timișoara: Editura Universității de Vest. ISBN 973-7608-65-8.
  5. ^ a b c "Film și lubeniță la Gottlob". Prin Banat. 25 July 2015.
  6. ^ Lotreanu, Ioan (1935). Monografia Banatului. Timișoara: Institutul de Arte Grafice „Țara”. p. 202.
  7. ^ a b Cranciova, Corina (2007). Trecut și prezent în satul bănățean. Povestea Gottlobului. O altfel de monografie. Timișoara: Brumar. pp. 14–16. ISBN 973-602-234-X.
  8. ^ Möller, Karl von (1923). Wie die schwäbischen Gemeinden entstanden sind. Timișoara: Schwäbischen Verlag. p. 28.
  9. ^ Borovszky, Samu (1912). "Torontál vármegye". Magyarország vármegyéi és városai. Budapest: Országos Monográfia Társaság.
  10. ^ Németh, István (1937). "A magyarországi francia telepek" (PDF). Széphalom (9): 3–8.
  11. ^ a b "Populația rezidentă după etnie". RPL 2021. Institutul Național de Statistică.
  12. ^ a b "Populația rezidentă după religie". RPL 2021. Institutul Național de Statistică.
  13. ^ Varga, E. Árpád. "Temes megye településeinek etnikai (anyanyelvi/nemzetiségi) adatai 1880-2002" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 June 2007. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  14. ^ "Alegeri locale 2024". Rezultate Vot.
  15. ^ a b Both, Ștefan (26 July 2016). "Povestea celor trei pastori care cultivă lubeniță la Gottlob. Absolventul de teologie și filosofie care preferă munca în câmp". Adevărul.
  16. ^ Both, Ștefan (26 March 2014). "Comuna timișeană Gottlob va deveni afinarul Europei: 11 hectare de plantație 100 la sută pentru piața externă". Adevărul.
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